New Baan Krang Trail

Theres a new trail that has been cut around the north of Baan Krang by the park and its an excellent trail. I walked it recently and although its still a new cut it is a very good trail for the forest/nature lover and takes you through some nice elevations runs (total is about 100 meters between lowest and highest). Am not sure if it was an old trail that has been recut or its an animal track (in parts) that has been joined. There is animal activity on the trail, I saw langur and muntjac and there is elephant sign as well as other small mammal sign. I also saw a first for me - a giant wasp killing and carting off a tarantula.

Check in with the rangers before attempting as its still a young cut and there is still a possibility of losing the trail until its becomes much more worn in through regular use.

I consider myself "well versed" when it comes to trails and the forest in general (most common last words of someone about to get lost in the forest ;+) - but I loved this trail. Its not a gentle walk by any means and don't try and compare it nor its length (2k) to any other tourist trails in the Baan Krang vicinity, this really is a good trail. I will be doing again that's for sure.

It goes without saying - if you are an infrequent tourist/visitor with no experience of the tropical forest DO NOT attempt this trail - its not the same as the others around Baan Krang, Get a ranger to go with you and you will have a wonderful and safe time.

One of the forum members also alerted me to a second new trail out of the Baan Krang area. I located it and walked about a quarter of its length, it's a tough trail. I won't share anything in a public forum on it though because its one way (does not come back to Baan Kraang) and I would be scared of someone having an issue on it (lost, logistical mishap, no permission, animal conflict). It's also a ranger accompanied only trail.

I did some internet digging on this picture and believe it to be a tarantula hawk wasp. Who would have even guessed there is such a thing!

﻿"A tarantula hawk is a
spider wasp
(Pompilidae) that hunts
tarantulas
. Tarantula hawks belong to any of the many species in the genera
Pepsis and
Hemipepsis. They are
parasitoid wasps
, using their sting to paralyze their prey before dragging it to a brood nest as living food; a single egg is laid on the prey, hatching to a larva which eats the still-living prey." Source Wikipedia.